Dual opening roof arrangement for covered hopper cars

ABSTRACT

A railway hopper car roof structure including roof hatch covers pivotally attached to the roof central portion and interconnected by a linkage mechanism to permit simultaneous upward and inward rotation of the hatch covers when a lifting force is applied to but one of the covers. In the open position the covers form an inverted V on top of the hopper car and in this manner aid in directing lading through the hatches.

United States Patent [191 Yang et al. 1 June 5, 1973 [54] DUAL OPENING ROOF 3,595,177 6/1971 Bennett et al. ..105/377 RRANG MENT F OV 2,629,339 2/1953 Kovachick HOPPER CARS Inventors: Tung H. Yang, Munster, lnd.;

Theodore A. Branson, Harbert, Mich.

Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.

Filed: Apr. 20, 1971 Appl. No.: 135,670

US. Cl ..l05/377 Int. Cl. ..B6ld 39/00 Field of Search ..l05/377; 52/45, 54,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1937 Lentz et al ..lO5/377 Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney-Hilmond O. Vogel and Richard J. Myers [57] ABSTRACT A railway hopper car roof structure including roof hatch covers pivotally attached to the roof central portion and interconnected by a linkage mechanism to permit simultaneous upward and inward rotation of the hatch covers when a lifting force is applied to but one of the covers. In the open position the covers form an inverted V on top of the hopper car and in this manner aid in directing lading through the hatches.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Ant ' PATENIEDJUN 5mm 3,736Q883 sum 10F 2 w INVENTORS no TUNG HAN YANG a THEODORE A. BRANSON PATENT AGENT PATENTEDJUH 51975 3.736.883 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS TUNG HAN YANG THEODORE A. BRANSON 1 BY M PATENT AGENT DUAL OPENING ROOF ARRANGEMENT FOR COVERED HOPPER CARS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the invention This invention relates to hopper car roof structures and, in particular, a roof structure comprised of individual spaced hatch covers which are interconnected for sequential opening.

2. Description of the Prior Art Roof structures involved with conventional hopper cars generally comprise a series of round hatch openings or a single or a series of longitudinally extending trough hatch openings which are used for loading lading into the hopper car as it moves along a trackside loading station. The trough hatch and rounded hatch openings have not solved the problem of incomplete filling of the hoppers because the upper corners and upper end portions are inaccessible for loading purposes. To overcome this deficiency and fully utilize the volume within a hopper, the present invention has evolved. The upper corners of the hoppers are now accessible and can be easily filled when the interconnected hatch covers are rotated into an above-car position. The linkage mechanism connecting the spaced panels makes the opening of the roof a simple procedure, since by lifting one of the two panels, both panels are rotated into their open position.

SUMMARY This invention relates to a hopper car roof construction embodying panels or covers spaced transversely of the hopper car and interconnected by a linkage mechanism so as to provide sequential and rotatable opening and closing of the hatch covers into an inverted V- shaped position above the hopper car to permit loading of the hoppers.

An object of the invention is to provide a hopper car roof hatch cover which can be opened and closed easily from the outside of the vehicle by a trackside crane or other lifting device, or can be utilized to allow manual opening of the roof members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a roof structure having cover sections interconnected by a linkage mechanism to provide for simultaneous and sequential opening of pairs of hatch covers when a single cover is lifted and rotated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hopper car roof structure having interconnected and rotatable closure members which rotate into an above-car V-shaped configuration and thereby assist in guiding and directing lading to the interior of the hoppers.

Additionally it is an object of the invention to provide a covered hopper car having a roof structure composed of large pivoted hatch covers thereby making a substantial portion of the roof structure movable and having roof portions extending longitudinally and transversely of the vehicle to maintain required roof stiffness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a railway hopper car wherein a large portion of the interior of the hoppers is exposed for top loading of the hopper when interconnected roof hatch covers are pivoted into the open position.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from reference to the following description, appended claims and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a railway hopper car with the roof structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of the top portion of the hopper car illustrated in FIG. 1 with sections removed to condense the illustration;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the roof structure illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 showing intermediate positions in phantom lines; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4 and showing the roof in the completely open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a railway hopper car 10 having a longitudinally extending side sill member 12 on each side of the car connecting end sill members 14. A top chord or side plate 16 is vertically spaced from the side sill l2 and runs along the top of the side walls 19. The hoppers 18 include side walls 19, intermediate bulkheads 20 and end bulkheads 21. Slope sheets 21a are inclined for the purpose of directing lading within the hoppers 18 to the hopper discharge portion 22 for removal through a movable gate structure or a pneumatic outlet. The invention is not limited to the specific type of car described here and may be utilized on hopper cars having variations from the described hopper car structure.

The roof section of the hopper car 10 includes pivoted cover members 24 which are substantially flat members, but may include stiffening ribs or corrugations formed in the panels. The hatch covers 24 also include an outer flange portion 26 which permits the incline panel to seat on the top chord 16 to insure a tight seal. The covers 24 slope upward and inward from the top chord 16 toward a roof central portion 28 which is a substantially horizontal member completing the roof structure between the transversely spaced hatch covers 24. The central portion 28 also includes inclined portions 28a at the outer margins which align with the sloped covers 24 for sealing purposes and add rigidity to the central portion 28 (see FIG. 4).

At the ends of the hopper 10 the end bulkheads 21 seal the hopper in the area adjacent the roof structure. At the central portion of the hopper car 10 roof closing or end portions 30 extend between the roof structure and an intermediate transition portion 32 to seal the hopper and roof and the central portion of the hopper car. The intermediate transition portion 32 includes sloped outer portions 34 which are embodied to permit the useful interior of the hopper structure to be maximized while still providing clearance for movement of the door linkage 38 in the area of the central portion of the hopper vehicle. The intermediate portion 32 also provides transverse and vertical rigidity to the roof structure and aids in preventing bulging of the side walls 19 from forces produced when the hoppers 18 are loaded.

The door opening linkage 38 is essentially a four bar mechanism interconnecting transversely spaced hatch covers members 24 so as to permit simultaneous opening of both panels when one panel is raised by application of a lifting force.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hatch covers 24 are pivoted at the bearing member 40 which is a lug fixedly secured to the central portion 28 of the roof. As illustrated in the cutaway portion of FIG. 2, a hinge member 42 is part of each roof panel 24 and is fixedly secured thereto as by welding to provide a convenient pivot for the cover 24. Arm member 44 is spaced from the hinge member 42 by the door pivot bearing 40. A second arm member 44a is positioned in the same manner relative to hearing member 40 as the arm member 44 but is at a different angle as required by the linkage mechanism to provide a desired movement of the hatch covers. Extending between the hinge member 42 and the arm member 44 and the arm member 44a is a door pivot pin 46 which is securely fastened to the members 42 and 44 as by a weld and is loosely fitted through the opening in the pivot bearing 40 to allow free rotational movement of each hatch door 24. Extending between the arm members 44, 44a is a free floating link 48 pivoted at both ends which completes the door opening linkage 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and for a more complete understanding of the operation of the roof structure of the present invention, it is noticed that the linkage mechanism 38 interconnects the hatch doors 24 to provide for simultaneous rotation of the panels about the pivot bearing 40. As illustrated in FIG. 4, as the hatch doors 24 illustrated in the right hand portion of the diagram are lifted to the phantom line position, the arm member 44 will rotate about the pivot pin 46 in a counterclockwise direction and in so rotating will pull the link 48 downward and to the right. The link 48 in moving to the right is placed in tension and will cause a clockwise rotation of the second link member 44a. As previously described, the link member 44a is securely fastened to its associated hatch cover 24 through the pivot pin 46 so that rotation of the arm 44a provides an identical rotation of the associated hatch cover 24. Of course it is understood that the cooperating cover 24 illustrated on the left side of the FIG. 4 could be lifted, in which case the associated link 44a would rotate clockwise and thereby compressing and forcing the floating link 48 downward and to the right which will rotate arm member 44 counterclockwise to pivot the associated panel 24.

Lifting of the hatch covers 24 will be accomplished with aid of trackside lifting devices or cranes when the weight of the panels so requires. Use of smaller individual covers 24 will allow for manual opening.

In FIG. 5, which illustrates the completed operation of the roof structure, it is noticed that in the fully operated position the roof panels 24 are contacting each other at their respective outerflange portions 26 and thereby forming an inverted V above the central portions 28 of the roof. In so forming, the roof panels will aid in directing lading such as grain, sand or plastic pel- I lets into the interior of the hopper.

To close the roof openings the panels 24 are pivoted tion. In the closed position the covers 24 extend from" the flange 28a to the sloped outer portion 34 in a sealing relation.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who 'have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway hopper car with end bulkheads and a lading carrying hopper structure divided by intermediate bulkhead portions to provide individual hoppers and each hopper having slope sheets to direct transported lading toward discharge outlets, and a roof structure having transversely spaced hatch openings positioned about a continuous roof central portion extending the length of each hatch opening, and pivotally attached and laterally spaced hatch covers to open and close said hatch openings, and the improvement comprising:

hinge means for rotating movement of the hatch covers and comprising hinge lug portions fixedly attached to the roof central portion and said hinge means also including corresponding hatch cover attached hinge portions;

linkage arm means rotatable with the associated hatch cover and including a hinge pin member rotatably positioned within said roof attached hinge lug portion and fixedly and nonrotatably attached to both said linkage arm means and the associated hatch cover attached hinge portion;

said linkage arm means of each hatch cover being in transverse alignment and pivotally interconnected by a floating link member to thereby provide a hatch cover operating linkage mechanism for simultaneous raising and lowering of the hatch covers;

an intermediate transition roof sheet portion extending transversely of said hopper car and having connecting portions joining with the roof central portion to thereby rigidify the roof structure.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and:

said intermediate transition roof sheet portion having top central horizontal portion and downwardly and outwardly sloped outer portions;

said hatch openings spaced longitudinally of the hopper car on opposite sides of said transition roof sheet portion;

said roof central portion extending from said end bulkheads to the transition portion to form a roof stiffening means;

said hatch cover operating linkage mechanism being connected to the roof central portion and the associated hatch covers for operative movement adjacent the end bulkhead and the intermediate transition roof sheet.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and:

said hatch covers extending generally downwardly and outwardly of the roof central portion when positioned in the closed position and having an edge flange portion for sealing with the hatch opening when said covers are in the closed position and for abutting the associated edge flange of the opposed transversely spaced hatch cover thereby forming an inverted V shaped lading directing means when said hatch covers are in the above car open position above said roof central portion.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and:

extending generally upwardly and outwardly from the associated roof mounted lug and including a second arm member extending generally horizontally and toward the associated first arm member;

said floating link member pivotally interconnecting the first and the second arm members to thereby provide for tensile loading of the floating link during opening movement of the hatch cover means whereby the first arm member and the second arm member rotate in opposite directions to provide simultaneous inward and upward movement of said associated transversely spaced hatch covers. 

1. A railway hopper car with end bulkheads and a lading carrying hopper structure divided by intermediate bulkhead portions to provide individual hoppers and each hopper having slope sheets to direct transported lading toward discharge outlets, and a roof structure having transversely spaced hatch openings positioned about a continuous roof central portion extending the length of each hatch opening, and pivotally attached and laterally spaced hatch covers to open and close said hatch openings, and the improvement comprising: hinge means for rotating movement of the hatch covers and comprising hinge lug portions fixedly attached to the roof central portion and said hinge means also including corresponding hatch cover attached hinge portions; linkage arm means rotatable with the associated hatch cover and including a hinge pin member rotatably positioned witHin said roof attached hinge lug portion and fixedly and nonrotatably attached to both said linkage arm means and the associated hatch cover attached hinge portion; said linkage arm means of each hatch cover being in transverse alignment and pivotally interconnected by a floating link member to thereby provide a hatch cover operating linkage mechanism for simultaneous raising and lowering of the hatch covers; an intermediate transition roof sheet portion extending transversely of said hopper car and having connecting portions joining with the roof central portion to thereby rigidify the roof structure.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and: said intermediate transition roof sheet portion having top central horizontal portion and downwardly and outwardly sloped outer portions; said hatch openings spaced longitudinally of the hopper car on opposite sides of said transition roof sheet portion; said roof central portion extending from said end bulkheads to the transition portion to form a roof stiffening means; said hatch cover operating linkage mechanism being connected to the roof central portion and the associated hatch covers for operative movement adjacent the end bulkhead and the intermediate transition roof sheet.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, and: said hatch covers extending generally downwardly and outwardly of the roof central portion when positioned in the closed position and having an edge flange portion for sealing with the hatch opening when said covers are in the closed position and for abutting the associated edge flange of the opposed transversely spaced hatch cover thereby forming an inverted V shaped lading directing means when said hatch covers are in the above car open position above said roof central portion.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, and: said transversely extending intermediate transition roof sheet portion being vertically spaced below said roof central portion and having upstanding roof closing end portions extending upwardly therefrom to join with the roof central portion and provide a downwardly and outwardly sloped closure member for supporting the adjacent hatch cover portion; said end bulkheads also having downwardly and outwardly extending portions for support of an associated hatch cover in the fully closed position.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, and: said linkage arm means including a first arm member extending generally upwardly and outwardly from the associated roof mounted lug and including a second arm member extending generally horizontally and toward the associated first arm member; said floating link member pivotally interconnecting the first and the second arm members to thereby provide for tensile loading of the floating link during opening movement of the hatch cover means whereby the first arm member and the second arm member rotate in opposite directions to provide simultaneous inward and upward movement of said associated transversely spaced hatch covers. 